When the clock struck zero on the Alabama Crimson Tide's season, they had received a heavy dose of reality, and even more so when they learned that one of their targets was walking behind their backs.
The Alabama Crimson Tide took a lot of hits when their season ended.
From losing key starters to the transfer portal to missing out on top portal targets, and even getting curved by a player who had already signed with the program.
And while the Tide have bounced back by finding a number of key players in the portal, losing out on running back Hollywood Smothers a week after he enrolled in classes may be the most bitter pill to swallow.
Recently, Smothers sat down to talk to On3’s Pete Nakos and further explained his reasoning as to why he made the last minute decision.
“At this point in my career, I wanted to put myself in the best position to make it to the NFL and to go win a championship,” Smothers said.
Entering the portal to play for a winning team is fine and justifiable. After all, he did play for NC State for two seasons with a combined 14-12 record.
And while Texas missed out on the College Football Playoffs this past season because of a poor start, a lot of progress has been made along the way.
But the portal is where the Longhorns will hope to see a major return on investment. Apart from Smothers, they were able to pry both wide receiver Cam Coleman and running back Raleek Brown from the Tide.
“Returning the potential No. 1 overall pick at QB [Arch Manning], and Alabama was losing their starter to the draft [Ty Simpson] and a lot of pieces to the NFL or portal in the wide receiver room,” Smothers said. “Texas just seemed like they had players in place to go on a run, and an offensive-minded coach who knows how to scheme his weapons open in the run and pass game.”
However, the way Smothers found himself in Austin has raised eyebrows speculating that a major NIL package was offered to him after he committed to the Crimson Tide.
Shortly after committing, he had signed on and enrolled in classes for this semester. And in this era of college football, nothing is off limits.
So, Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns put on the full court press for Smothers.
But Smothers refuted the speculation that his move was strictly for NIL purposes, and that winning was the ultimate factor.
“NIL didn’t play a big factor for me, no matter how much the internet factors it. I honestly just want to win, and I feel like we are in the best position to go win it all with the talent and depth at Texas.”
Whether it was NIL or the potential that Texas brings to the table, no one will have a true answer. But the timing was awfully convenient.
Either way, there’s going to be too many mouths to feed in Austin, and it’ll be curious to see whether or not Smothers becomes a feature back there or is a part of a committee with Raleek Brown and the top running back recruit Derrek Cooper.
For the Crimson Tide, even though they missed out on one of their top targets, it’ll be a season where Daniel Hill gets a shot to win the starting job, while we will also get an extended look at redshirt freshman AK Dear, or even true freshman Ezavier Crowell.
Even though this month hasn’t been kind to the Tide, all will be just fine in T-Town.